Frankie Valli - A legend was born in Newark, New Jersey on May 3, 1937, in the form of Francis Stephen Castelluccio (later Frankie Valli). Frankie had dreamed of being a singer ever since his mother took him to see Frank Sinatra perform when he was little, and he never gave up on his dream. Frankie Valli recorded his first record, "My Mother's Eyes", in 1953 as "Frankie Valley". Soon after that, he was named the lead singer of the singing group that he formed with three other New Jersey boys, "The Four Lovers". Under this name, and under contract by RCA Victor, the group recorded a single album in 1956, entitled "Joyride".
Many changes were in store for the boys--the group eventually changed their name from "The Four Lovers" to "The Four Seasons" after a New Jersey bowling alley they had failed to win a gig at. Then one day on the way to rehearsal, group member Bob Gaudio was heading out the door when he suddenly came up with an unforgettable tune. He went to the piano to jot it down, and fifteen minutes later he had finished the song and was on his way.
The Four Seasons, now under contract with Vee-Jay, released this song, "Sherry", which became their first number one hit ever, with Frankie Valli's remarkable falsetto, in the year 1962. Although many groups were using falsetto as backup, the Four Seasons were the first group ever to use falsetto as the lead. With their new hit status, and Frankie Valli's three and a half octave spanning voice, the Four Seasons soon had yet another number one hit with "Big Girls Don't Cry" and then again with "Walk Like a Man". The Four Seasons were hot, and they just kept on going.
The Four Seasons have recorded songs in five decades, and are the only group to have at least one hit in so many decades in a row. Part of their secret is their versatility, and also their immense talent. As the sixties neared a close, so did the doo wop days of the Four Seasons. With the seventies came disco, songs such as "Who Loves You" and "December '63 (Oh What a Night)". In the eighties there was "Streetfighter". "December '63" hit the charts again in 1993, introducing many new people to the Four Seasons. Frankie Valli is reportedly working on a new album at this time, but he has not announced a release date thus far. Keep an eye out for some new music from Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and yet another decade of great music in the new millennium!
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